R. Kelly trial revelations: Biggest moments of Week 3 as singer faces more sex-crime charges

The third week of R. Kelly's federal trial in Chicago wrapped up the prosecution's side and began the singer's defense as he faces several sex-crime charges.

Kelly is already sentenced to 30 years in prison after his New York federal trial ended in June. Closing arguments are expected to happen in the middle of next week. A conviction in Chicago could add decades to his sentence.

Throughout the week, the jury heard testimonies from three more Kelly accusers. The prosecution rested on Tuesday, after which the court took a break on Wednesday and returned Thursday with the defense. Notably, Kelly told the judge he would not be taking the stand to testify during this trial.

Who is involved in R. Kelly's case in Chicago?

• Kelly, 55, faces 13 charges which include producing child pornography, enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

• Two of Kelly's associates, Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown, are co-defendants in the trial and are accused of aiding Kelly in the alleged crimes.

• All defendants have denied any wrongdoing.

Here are the biggest happenings from the third week of the trial.

R. Kelly's trial in Chicago, explained: Why the convicted sex offender is back in court

Last week's recap: Biggest moments from Week 2 of R. Kelly's trial as singer faces more sex-crime charges

Defense begins with R. Kelly saying he won't testify

Kelly’s lawyers began mounting a defense Thursday, though presentation to jurors won’t include Kelly taking the witness stand.

Judge Harry Leinenweber asked Kelly directly on Thursday morning if he would testify, and the Grammy Award winner responded he would not.

The judge raised the issue minutes before attorneys for Kelly and two co-defendants began calling their first witnesses, endeavoring to counter two weeks of government testimony — including from four women who accused Kelly of sexual abuse.

Co-defendant McDavid, a longtime Kelly business manager, is accused of helping Kelly rig the 2008 trial, at which Kelly was acquitted. McDavid said he will testify. Co-defendant Brown is charged with receiving child pornography. Like Kelly, he said he wouldn’t testify.

Testifying would have been risky. At times, Kelly has exploded in anger under tough questioning, which could hurt his defense.

He lost his cool in a 2019 interview with Gayle King on “CBS This Morning.” When she pressed him about accusations of sexual abuse, he jumped up, crying and gesticulating. “I didn’t do this stuff!” he shouted. “This is not me! I’m fighting for my ... life!”

More: R. Kelly screams and cries as he claims he's innocent: 'I've been assassinated'

Prosecution rests with fourth R. Kelly accuser's testimony

Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday after presenting two weeks of testimony, including from four Kelly accusers.

Among the last prosecution witnesses was a 42-year-old woman who went by the pseudonym “Nia.” Taking the stand Tuesday morning, she was the fourth and final accuser to testify at the trial in Kelly’s hometown. A fifth accuser, who prosecutors had said during openings would testify, never did. They didn’t explain why.

Through her testimony, Nia painted a picture of Kelly as a master manipulator who reeled in star-stuck fans, like her, to sexually abuse them and then discard them.

Kelly gave Nia, an aspiring actress and model, his telephone number after the then-15 year-old asked him for an autograph at an Atlanta mall in 1996, she testified. She said Kelly knew her age when he invited her to a concert in Minnesota, bought her plane ticket and sent a limousine with an all-red interior to pick her up.

On the way to the airport, Nia stopped to buy a red rose for Kelly, which she placed in her hotel room. When Kelly came to her room, he kissed her, then told her to undress and sit next to him on the bed. She said she was uncomfortable but did as he said. After touching her and himself, he quickly left, she said.

Nia said that for weeks after meeting Kelly, he promptly answered all her calls. But before long, he never answered them. When she saw him years later at a video shoot, she said she was hurt when he didn’t appear to recognize or acknowledge her.

She ended up suing Kelly in the early 2000s, alleging sexual abuse. Kelly quickly settled, paying her $500,000.

Judge Leinenweber told jurors they would have Wednesday off, then return for the first defense witnesses Thursday.

Two more R. Kelly accusers testify

Two more accusers took the witness stand Monday. The first accuser, who testified two weeks ago under the pseudonym “Jane,” is critical to another of the charges — that the R&B singer successfully rigged his 2008 state child pornography trial by threatening witnesses and concealing video evidence.

An accuser who used the pseudonym “Pauline” told jurors Monday she was a middle school classmate of Jane’s and that Jane introduced her to Kelly in 1998 when they were 14 and Kelly was around 30.

When she was at Kelly’s Chicago home later that year, Pauline said she was startled to walk in on Kelly and a naked Jane in a basement area. She said Kelly told her that “we all have secrets” and that this is “our secret.”

The second accuser to testify Monday, referred to only as Tracy, said she was introduced to Kelly when she was 16 by a boss at a record company she was interning for in 1998. Tracy told jurors she repeatedly rebuffed Kelly’s advances and that at several points he used force to sexually abuse her. She said she first had intercourse with Kelly when she was 16, then dozens of times when she was 17 and 18.

Contributing: Elise Brisco, USA TODAY; and Michael Tarm, The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: R. Kelly trial updates: Biggest moments from week 3 of Chicago trial